Friday, September 25, 2015

Simply by adding slivered almonds on top of these scrumptious bad boys, takes you from saying, "Oh - a poppyseed muffin."

To, "Yummy! That's a fancy muffin, it must be almond flavored!"

Oh yeah! DELISH! These muffins are dressed to impress!

Almond Poppyseed Muffins

2 c. Flour

1 1/4 c. Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1/4 tsp. Salt

1 T. Poppy Seeds

1 beaten Egg

1 c. Milk

*1/4 c. Oil (I used Olive Oil, but any cooking oil works)

1 1/2 tsp. Almond Extract

In one bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and poppy seeds. In a separate bowl combine egg, milk, oil and almond extract. Pour the liquid into the "dry ingredient" bowl and mix together. Place batter into paper lined, muffin tins. Place 4 slivered almonds on top of each cup of batter to give it a "fancy" almond flower.

Bake at 400 for 16-18 minutes, or until tops and edges turn golden brown.

This recipe makes 18 muffins.

*I tried this recipe with 1/4 c. Applesauce instead of Oil and it was AWFUL! YOU HAVE TO USE OIL! TRUST ME!

After the song we dove into the lesson. We read the article first then started our "choice activity."

Agency and Choices

Prep for the Choice Activity:
First I cut out yellow and brown circles of paper. I then drew smiley faces and sad faces on the paper circles. On the back of the faces I wrote down choices/scenarios that were age appropriate for my kids.

(Hitting someone with a toy, not sharing, pushing someone, picking up toys when being asked, giving someone sad - a hug. etc.)

*The choices I wrote down were geared towards my 3 and 5 year old.

Write choices/ decisions or scenarios that are appropriate for your children.

Put your children in a "scene" and have them answer truthfully - what would you do? Or what would Jesus want you to do? He is ALWAYS watching.

Example: "You're at lunch and you see a kid sitting by himself. Your friends start waving you over to sit by them. What do you do?

As you can see I used different colored paper for good and bad choices. If your children are older and can actually read, use the same colored paper for both choices. This will make them think harder and have to choose if the decision is good or bad for themselves.

Next, I made a "present." An empty box with wrapping paper. I made sure I had at least one side open so my kids could not only put the "choices" in the box, but that we could also get them out easily.

Both choices good and bad are a "gift." So place both kids of choices in the present box.

In closing discuss with your family, why it's important to make good decisions. And also discuss what we can do when we make a bad choice. We can repent. We are in this life to make choices, we will all falter - none of us are perfect. But it is our job to continually to TRY to make good choices and become more like Jesus Christ.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Peach season is still going, make this while you still can! We LOVE making Dutch Pancakes, it's one of our most favorite breakfasts. They're fast, easy and super yummy! We've tried lots of different toppings and love them all! This Peach Sauce is DELICIOUS, it's tangy and sweet. Check it out!

Dutch Pancake

In a medium bowl whisk together:

2 Eggs

1 tsp. Olive Oil

1/2 c. Milk

Add:

1/2 c. Flour

1/4 c. Sugar

1/4 tsp. Cinnamon

Whisk together until smooth

Pour into a greased 9 in. round pan.

Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until puffy and lightly golden brown.

While the Dutch Pancake is cooking, prepare the Peach Sauce.

*This Dutch Pancake makes about 4-5 servings (When I have company, I make two)

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Peach Sauce

3 Medium Peaches - peeled - pit removed and sliced

3 T. Sugar

1/4 tsp. Vanilla

Blend the sliced peaches in a ninja, food processor or blender. Place in a small sauce pan and cook over medium heat. Add Sugar and Vanilla. Cook until nice and thick.

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Heat a flat pan or skillet over medium/high heat. Lightly grease your flat pan or skillet. Using a 1/4 c. measuring cup, scoop batter and place onto the hot greased surface. When bubbles start to form on top of the batter - flip the pancake over using a spatula. Cook evenly on both sides. Garnish with butter and syrup, or peanut butter and honey! DELISH!*When using the 1/4 c. measuring cup this recipe makes about 8-10 pancakes.

Friday, September 11, 2015

At a birthday party for my father in law I saw my mother in law doing something AMAZING and I just had to share it with you! She started whipping her whipped cream in the sink! I glanced at her as if she'd lost her mind, then I realized the pure GENIUS OF IT! I said, "Do you know how much this will change my life?!" She said, "I've always made my frosting and whipping cream in the sink, if I don't it goes everywhere."

HA! Well little did she know, she was talking to the girl who made frosting 2 days before and got powdered sugar EVERYWHERE because my bowl wasn't big enough! Well, little bowl or big bowl, I am SOOO mixing everything in my sink from now on! NO MORE messy shirts, counters and floors for me!

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

This is NOT a sponsored post, this is just me sharing one of the BEST products I've found for my low back pain; and I want to share it with you!

My favorite product is calledAmish Origins Greaseless. My parents got me hooked on it. They use it on their knees, elbows, wrists, and neck. It goes on like a lotion and you INSTANTLY feel the heat and cooling sensation. I've done my research, and it has FOUR essential oils. Most other products only have two! That's double the power!

I teach a dance fitness class every week and my low back always gets sore. My parents sent me a jar and now I'm HOOKED! I put this on right after I finish teaching and it feels AMAZING!

Monday, September 7, 2015

I don't know about you, but I always have a crazy hard time finding gifts for my dad and father-in law. Purchasing men's gifts is a struggle I know I will continue to have, but this year I am ready! I came up with something I thought would be thoughtful and practical. Both men love ties and both men love their grandchildren. So what better idea than to combine the two? Personalize their ties with a little ribbon of love? Take a look!

On the back of each tie, is a ribbon stating the brand of the tie. I simply replaced the "brand" ribbon with a personalized ribbon.

1. Take white ribbon, about the same width of the "brand ribbon" and have your child write their name, or a simple message, like "I love you" with a THIN permanent marker.

2. "Seal" the raw edges of the ribbon with a match or lighter. (Bring the edge of the ribbon close to the flame and it will "melt" the edges of the ribbon and seal it so it doesn't' fray! Pretty great!)

3. Fold and hand sew the ribbon over top of the "brand ribbon."

(BE SURE NOT TO SEW ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE TIE!

Sew just enough to catch the fabric to keep the ribbon in place.)

4. You can choose to cut or seam rip out the "brand ribbon" or just leave it there.

3. Place the next smallest bowl in the center of the larger bowl "ring" and trace.

4. Place the star in the center of the smaller circle. Be sure the star is smaller than your smallest circle, so your stencil will all be one piece.

5. Here is a picture of what your tracings should resemble

6. Place a newspaper or cutting board under your freezer paper. Cut out the stencil with an exact-o knife. (throw away the ring and the star)

7.Round the edges of the freezer paper (it sticks better when ironed). Place the large circle "stencil" on the sweatshirt. SHINY SIDE DOWN. Iron the freezer paper down. Be sure to iron it down WELL. (DO NOT pull up the stencil, once it is ironed, it can't "stick" again, you would have to start ALL over! So place it correctly the first time.)

8. Place the next circle (with the star cut out of the middle) SHINY SIDE DOWN, onto the sweatshirt and iron down.

9. Slide an extra piece of freezer paper inside the sweat shirt - shiny side up to catch any fabric paint if it leaks through.

10. Mix half white and half silver fabric paint.

11. Paint your first layer of fabric paint onto the sweatshirt. Be sure it's even and you don't leave streaks of paint - when it dries, it will dry just like that.

2. Place a piece of freezer paper SHINY SIDE DOWN, and "measure" where you want your necklace to be, trace it lightly with a pencil.

3. Cut around the traced design and start punching.

(When cutting around the design, the rounder edges stick better when ironed)

4. The finished punched necklace stencil.

5. Iron the freezer paper SHINY SIDE DOWN onto the T-Shirt. Be sure to iron it down WELL. (DO NOT pull up the stencil, once it is ironed, it can't "stick" again, you would have to start ALL over! So place it correctly the first time.)

6. Place foil inside the shirt to keep from bleeding to the other side. Start to paint the stencil, EVENLY. If you paint in un-even layers it will stay that way. Let dry, and paint another coat.

(I always do at least 2 coats of fabric paint)

7. When dry, peel off the freezer paper. Make a small bow with ribbon to match the fabric paint, and hand sew in place.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

In my opinion, every kid starting school needs one of these! These helpful supplies and uplifting reminders will keep your kids on track. Go over each school necessity as a family, and talk about how we can use it to better our life and those around us.

Print, cut and attach the phrases to the school supplies. Discuss and enjoy!

Print the Banner and Phrase Page below.
(As your scroll over the printable - you will see a Square with an Arrow on the upper right hand corner of the printable box - click on that to print!)